Hey there people! My goodness, I am so sorry for how late it has taken me to get this out. My only explanation is that life has been getting hectic, as well trying to get this chapter just right. I hope I have done that and hope you enjoy this.
Review responses;
Shetan20 – You're welcome, I'm glad you're enjoying this story so far and hope you enjoy this chapter x
Moore4control – You're welcome, I'm sorry for taking so long to update this and hope you enjoy it. With the alternate version, I will be uploading once I've finished the Hobbit storyline with this one. After the Battle of the Five Armies, the first chapter should be uploaded. It gives me time to work on the chapters for it then.
Chapter 25
We are lead through the familiar wood of my home and soon cross the bridge that leads us into the Woodland Realm, the place I haven't seen in almost two decades.
"Holo in ennyn." Legolas addresses the guards as we enter, the doors soon slamming shut behind us, blocking our way out.
I look around as we walk long the raised wooden walkways of my childhood home, the one I spent over five hundred years of my life.
"Mae tollen na mar, muinthel." Legolas says as he walks next to me.
I just give a small smile as we walk on.
Not long after, as we get close to the platform where father's throne stands, all the dwarves but Thorin are led away, no doubt to the dungeons. Before he walks on, I reach out and take Legolas' arm, causing him to look to me.
"Make sure they are well cared for. You may not like dwarves, but they are my family."
He looks to me for a moment before nodding, giving my hand a reassuring squeeze and leaves with them. Thorin and I are taken up the stairs to the platform and I look up at my father, who I had not seen for over a hundred and seventy years. Father sits, lounging, on his throne and doesn't look at us until we are standing in front of him.
"So, you have finally come to your senses and have returned." he speaks as he stands.
I say nothing while he walks down the stairs beside the throne and walks towards us. Feeling Thorin tense beside me, I reach and take his hand to keep him calm, while I keep looking straight ahead. He gently takes my chin with his his forefinger and thumb and make me look up at him. His eyes show the usual love I always saw whenever I was around him, but there's also anger, disappointment and worry in his grey orbs as he looks over the scars I still bare from the wargs. Even though I still have pent up anger at my father, for how he treated Thorin and I, how he kept me away from, I cannot help but also feel love for him. He's my father, how could I not love him? I decide to keep my face devoid of emotion as I look at him.
"It has been a hundred and seventy one years since you left us, and look at you, hardly recognisable behind those scars. Was it worth it? Going after the dwarves? Was it worth leaving your home and kin behind?"
I say nothing as I wrench my head out of his grip and continue to stare ahead. I would never admit this to him, but the only thing I regret about leaving is having to say goodbye to Legolas and Tauriel. I don't regret leaving him, home or even the scars I now have because of Azog. Everything was worth leaving so I could know Thorin is safe. . .so we could be together once again.
Father says nothing as he continues to watch me, I swear I can see a flicker of hurt on his face, but it quickly goes before the walks behind us.
"Some may imagine that a noble quest is at hand. A quest to reclaim a homeland and slay a dragon. I myself suspect a more prosaic motive: attempted burglary, or something of that ilk."
He walks back over to stand beside Thorin, bending over slightly to look at him more closely.
"You have found a way in. You seek that which would bestow upon you the right to rule: the King's Jewel, the Arkenstone."
I see Thorin look down at this, even talking about the Arkenstone seems to pain him. I squeeze the hand I am still holding in comfort, causing him to glance at me and give me a small smile before turning his face back to father as he continues to talk.
"It is precious to you beyond measure. I understand that. There are gems in the mountain that I too desire. White gems of pure starlight. I offer you my help."
I hear him scoff slightly and can practically hear the smirk in his voice as he replies.
"I am listening."
"I will let you go, if you but return what is mine."
Thorin squeezes my hand before he turns and slowly starts walking back to the stairs, standing at the top as he looks out.
"A favour for a favour."
"You have my word. One king to another."
I close my eyes and inwardly groan. I have a bad feeling about where this is going to go, especially as I see Thorin's shoulders tense.
"I would not trust Thranduil, the great king, to honor his word should the end of all days be upon us!"
Thorin spins around and point at father. He is now shouting.
"You lack all honour! I've seen how you treat your friends, how you treat your kin." he indicates me at this point. Looking to father, I see him have a look of shock and hurt on his face. "We came to you once, starving, homeless, seeking your help, but you turned your back. You turned away from the suffering of my people and the inferno that destroyed us! Imrid amrad ursul!"
Father strides over and puts his face right in front of Thorin's. I have to physically hold myself from pushing him away.
"Do not talk to me of dragon fire. I know its wrath and ruin. I have faced the great serpents of the north."
As father speaks, his face contorts and we see what appears to be burns and scars from a past encounters with dragons. His left eye is milky and unseeing. He draws away, and his face returns to normal. I look to him with a surprised expression, never having seen that before. As he speaks next, he sounds tired, as if lowering whatever incantation is covering his scars have exhausted his strength.
"I warned your grandfather of what his greed would summon, but he would not listen."
Father turns and walks up the steps to his throne.
"You are just like him."
After he gives a hand motion, the guards suddenly grab Thorin and haul him toward the dungeons. I try to rush forward, but another guard tightly grabs my arms, holding me back.
"Stay here if you will, and rot. A hundred years is a mere blink in the life of an elf. I am patient. I can wait."
I stand and watch as the guards take Thorin away, both of us being able to catch each others gaze before the door shuts behind them.
Feeling my father's eyes on me and the guards hold on me loosens on me until it vanishes completely, causing me to turn and face my father as he sits on his throne looking down on me. I just keep my head held high.
"The rebel child has returned home."
I scoff at this. Rebel child? Is that the best he can come up with?
"Not by choice, that is for certain."
"If not by choice, then why do you set foot in a place you do not want to be?"
I give him a deadpan look. "Really? You have to ask? We were walking through the forest when we lost the path."
He did not need to know that it was the dwarves that strayed from the path. That I will keep to myself.
He raises a brow, as if he's seeing through my half truth statement. "You expect me to believe, that a Silven Elf, the Princess of the woods at that, would lose her way?"
"The forest is a little different from when I was last here, in case you have not noticed."
He just hums at that. "What will you do now?"
"Do what I came all this way for. Continue on with the dwarves. You cannot just imprison them for the rest of their lives."
He smirks down at me. "Can I not?"
I just stare at him for a moment and open my mouth to speak, but he cuts over me.
"I made Thorin a fair deal. He is the one that chose not to take it. If he were to come to his senses and accept my offer, then I will allow them to go, as I said."
I glare at him. "You turned both he and his people away! Can you really blame him?!"
He inclines his head. "They would have brought chaos upon us. Dwarves and elves, living together? No, I think not. Not after what Thror did. All I want is what is mine to be returned to me. Do I not have that right?"
I shake my head. "All this over some gems? There are far more important things! Mother would not-"
"Do not speak to me of her!" he roars, surprising me. Maybe I went too far. Or maybe not. I know in my heart I am right. Mother would never have allowed this. She was his balance, and without her, he seems to be losing it.
As I stare at him, his voice changes to a silky tone, as he looks to where Thorin and the others were taken.
"You want your dwarves to be free? Then I offer you a deal, iell nin. I will let you take them away and continue on your journey, but once you are done, you will return with the gems, stay in this Kingdomand never return to Erebor."
I just stare at him in shock. After all that has happened, after the many years Thorin and I had spent apart because of my father, he is still wanting to keep me away from him, still wanting to keep me away from the future Thorin and I have been dreaming about for years.
I just shake my head in sadness. "You have not changed. After being away from her for almost two decades, I thought it would at least change your thoughts on, if not OUR happiness, then at least MY happiness. Whether you like it or not, my happiness is with Thorin. Not only did you drive Thorin and Thrain away, denying them the help they desperately needed, but you kept me locked away in my own home, stopping me from following my heart. I am NOT going to let you do that again. Thorin and I love each other, I know he would not want me to accept such a deal, so I will not, no matter how much I wish for their freedom."
Having stepped down from his throne, my father now stands in front of me. He places a hand on my cheek as he gets me to look at him.
"Do you really think that love is real? Do you think he will be there for you, to love you as you think he does? He is just like his grandfather, soon enough, his greed will become too much and he will forget all about you, leave you to live out the rest of your long life alone, trapped in your own tomb of stone. Stop now, before it is too late."
I look to him for a moment as I think about Rivendell and the fears Thorin confided in me. Fears of becoming like his grandfather. I stood by him then, promising that I would not let that happen. And I am going to stick to that no matter what. Even if by chance I failed and he did give in to the sickness, I will be right there to pull him out of it.
"I cannot. When he asked me to marry him, I swore to always be with him. You pulled me away from him once, I will not do it again. Thorin will not fail, I will make sure of it."
He does not say anything, but I can see the disappointment in his eyes. I would like to think that he only does this because he loves me and wants to keep me safe, and not for any selfish reasons of his own. But. . .I have my doubts.
"If that is your wish. Your companions will still be kept prisoner. However, this is still your home, I will not keep you as a prisoner. You may move as you will, even to the dungeons if that is your wish. Maybe you can persuade that stubborn dwarf of yours to accept my customs."
He then turns and walks up to his throne and I know that's as good as a dismissal as any so I leave, making my way down to the dungeons.
There we have it, finally the dreaded encounter between father and daughter. I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. Please keep your lovely reviews coming and stay tuned for the next part.
Translations;
Holo in ennyn. - Close the Gates
Mae tollen na mar, muinthel - Welcome home, sister
Imrid amrad ursul - Die a death of flames!
Iell nin –My daughter